How do you get your kids to actually brush their teeth?

That’s a classic workaround - kids are way too clever with tech sometimes. I’ve read that tangible rewards activate the dopaminergic pathways more directly than abstract digital points, especially for younger kids. Have you noticed if the novelty of physical rewards wears off, or do they keep working over time?

Physical rewards worked for a while with my kids, but I noticed they started losing interest after a couple months. I guess the excitement fades once they know what to expect. We tried switching up the rewards - like stickers one week, then letting them pick a bedtime story the next. That helped a bit, but honestly, it’s tough to keep things fresh without spending a lot. Has anyone tried non-material incentives, like extra playtime or a small privilege? Curious if those hold up any better over time.

Curious if those hold up any better over time.

I get where you’re coming from - switching up the rewards can help for a bit, but I’ve found privileges like extra playtime or picking a movie don’t always stick either. Sometimes the novelty just wears off, no matter what. What actually worked for us was making brushing a family thing for a while. Less about rewards, more about routine and doing it together. It wasn’t perfect, but it took some of the pressure off finding new incentives all the time.

It wasn’t perfect, but it took some of the pressure off finding new incentives all the time.

Funny, we tried sticker charts and little prizes for a while, but after a couple weeks my son just stopped caring. What actually helped was letting him “teach” us how to brush - he got a kick out of being the expert. Not a magic fix, but it made things less of a battle. Sometimes just changing up the routine is enough.

Teaching turns the tables, huh? That’s actually pretty clever. I tried something similar with my daughter when she got her braces - she suddenly became the “brushing police” for everyone, which was hilarious until she started timing me and my partner like it was a competition. Honestly, I thought the novelty would wear off, but she still checks if I’m using my little orthodontic brush thingy right.

Sticker charts never worked for us, either. She just lost interest after a week... and I ended up with a bunch of random stickers on my fridge. I feel like the key is mixing it up. Sometimes we’ll play a song and have a mini dance party while brushing. Anything to keep it from feeling like a chore, you know?

Have you tried letting your kid pick their own toothbrush or toothpaste? Mine went wild for the blue sparkly one. Not sure if that’s normal, but hey, as long as she’s brushing...

My grandkids are the same way with toothbrushes - one of them insisted on a brush shaped like a dinosaur, and now apparently it’s the only thing that “works.” I used to think all this was silly, but honestly, if it keeps ‘em brushing, I’m not complaining. Dance parties sound more fun than anything my dentist ever suggested back in the day... maybe I need to try that myself.

I used to think all those themed toothbrushes were just marketing, but honestly, I get it now. When I first got braces, I was super strict about technique and timing, but it was such a chore. I probably would’ve brushed more as a kid if I’d had a dinosaur brush or music involved. The only thing my parents did was set a timer, which just made it feel like a countdown to freedom.

Now, I use an electric brush with a built-in timer - nothing fancy, but it works for me. For kids though, whatever keeps them brushing is worth it, even if it seems silly. I do wonder if all these “fun” brushes actually help with technique, or if it’s just about getting the job done. Either way, better than skipping it, right? I’d take a dance party over those old dental lectures any day.

For kids though, whatever keeps them brushing is worth it, even if it seems silly.

Honestly, I’m with you there. I used to scoff at those flashy toothbrushes, but now I see the value if it means less nagging and more actual brushing. My youngest only got into the habit because of a brush that played her favorite song - she’d dance around and forget she was even brushing. But I do wonder, does all the fun stuff distract from actually cleaning their teeth well? Or maybe it helps them stick with it long enough to do a decent job? Curious if anyone’s noticed better checkups after switching to the “fun” approach...

We went through a similar phase in my house. I was skeptical of anything with lights or sounds, but my son got into brushing once we let him pick a superhero brush with a built-in timer. I do wonder if he’s actually brushing well or just zoning out to the music, though. At our last checkup, the dentist said his teeth looked better than before, so maybe the novelty helps keep them at it longer. Anyone else notice their kids get more thorough with the “fun” gadgets, or is it just luck?

We tried a light-up brush with my daughter after she flat-out refused to brush for weeks. I was nervous she’d just play with it, but the timer actually helped her stick with it longer. Still, I’m always hovering, double-checking if she’s actually hitting all her teeth and not just watching the lights. Once in a while, I’ll brush my teeth next to her so she can copy what I’m doing - seems to help a bit. I honestly think the gadgets help, but I still worry and try to supervise when I can.

Once in a while, I’ll brush my teeth next to her so she can copy what I’m doing - seems to help a bit.

That modeling approach makes sense to me. I’ve read about “mirror neurons” and how kids learn by imitation, so maybe seeing you brush helps her internalize the routine? I’m still at the stage where my son mostly chews on the brush like it’s a snack... The timer idea is clever, though. I wonder if there’s a way to combine that with a reward system - like stickers for actually brushing, not just watching the lights. Anyone else’s kid obsessed with the toothpaste flavor instead of the actual brushing?

I’m still at the stage where my son mostly chews on the brush like it’s a snack...

That made me laugh - my daughter did the same for months. She was way more into the strawberry toothpaste than actually brushing. What finally worked for us was letting her “brush” my teeth after I did hers. Not perfect, but it got the job done (and sometimes a mouthful of foam for me).

letting her “brush” my teeth after I did hers

That’s a clever tactic. A few things that helped in our house:

- Consistency: same time, same routine every day (even if he just chews on it)
- Letting him pick his own toothbrush - made a surprising difference
- Modeling: brushing together, so it feels normal

Honestly, the chewing phase is more common than people admit. As long as the brush is in there regularly, you’re building the habit. The thoroughness comes later.

We tried the “let’s brush together” thing and it worked... for about three days. Now my son’s main goal is to see how much toothpaste he can get on the mirror instead of his teeth. At this point, I’m just happy if the brush makes it into his mouth at all.

Letting them pick out their own toothbrush is a game-changer though - mine insisted on a dinosaur one that cost more than I wanted to spend, but hey, if it gets him excited, worth it. I used to stress about him mostly chewing on the brush, but honestly, you’re right - the habit is what matters now. My dentist said as long as there’s some brushing happening, we’re ahead of the game.

I do wish there was a way to make toothbrushing as exciting as snack time. If someone figures that out without breaking the bank, I’m all ears.

We tried the electric toothbrush route - figured the buzzing and lights might make it more interesting. Mixed results... he was into it for about a week, then back to launching toothpaste rockets. Has anyone had luck with those toothbrushing apps or timers? I’m curious if the tech actually helps or just adds to the chaos.

We’ve definitely seen a lot of “toothpaste rockets” in our house, too. My youngest went through a phase where brushing his teeth was basically code for redecorating the bathroom mirror with blue specks. Tried the electric brush with all the bells and whistles - same story as yours. He loved it for a bit, then the novelty just faded and he was back to goofing off.

We gave one of those toothbrushing timer apps a shot last year. The one we used had this animated dragon that “cheered” when you finished brushing. I’ll admit, it worked for maybe two weeks. He’d ask for my phone, do the brushing, and then get distracted with other games. After that, it turned into just another negotiation about screen time. Honestly, it ended up adding to the chaos more than helping. Maybe if your kiddo is super into following directions or loves routines, it might stick longer, but for us, it felt like just another thing to manage.

What’s worked best in our house is making it a family thing - everyone brushing together and making it sort of a race (but a slow one, since we’re supposed to take our time). Sometimes we’ll play his favorite song and brush until it’s over. Not perfect, but at least it’s less of a battle than before.

Every kid’s different, but from what I’ve seen (and heard from other parents in the office), sometimes all the tech in the world can’t compete with a little old-fashioned routine and some goofy encouragement. And yeah, some days you just have to accept that toothpaste will end up everywhere except their teeth...

This all sounds so familiar - sometimes I think half the toothpaste in our house ends up on the counter or the dog, not anyone’s teeth. I totally get what you mean about the timer apps and electric brushes. We tried the app route too, and it became more about arguing over screen time than actually brushing. I guess there’s only so much you can gamify before it just adds to the chaos.

I really like your family brushing idea. We’ve started doing something similar, and while it’s not a magic fix, it does help. My oldest actually gets a kick out of “teaching” his little sister how to brush, which somehow makes him more invested in doing it right. Some nights it’s still a mess, but at least everyone’s in it together.

Honestly, I think you’re right - sometimes you just have to let go of perfection and focus on making it a habit. A little encouragement (and a lot of patience) seems to go further than any gadget we’ve tried.

I get where you’re coming from with the family brushing routine, and I definitely see the value in making it a group activity. Still, I’m not totally convinced that letting go of perfection is always the answer. You mentioned,

Honestly, I think you’re right - sometimes you just have to let go of perfection and focus on making it a habit.

but for us, when we relaxed about technique or timing, things slid pretty fast. Next thing I knew, they were doing a five-second brush and calling it done. Maybe my kids are just especially good at finding loopholes?

We actually had better luck sticking to a stricter structure, at least until the basics became second nature. It wasn’t about being militant - more like keeping expectations clear and consistent. We set a visible timer (not an app, just an old-school sand timer), and did random “spot checks” for missed spots or toothpaste blobs in the sink. Yeah, it sounds a bit over the top, but it kept everyone accountable.

I do agree that gadgets can add to the chaos, especially with kids who are already obsessed with screens. But I wouldn’t write off all tech completely. Our son really clicked with his electric toothbrush once we made it “his job” to keep it charged and clean. That little sense of ownership actually motivated him more than any reward chart or group brushing.

I guess what I’m saying is that sometimes a bit of structure isn’t the enemy of habit - it can actually help set the foundation for good routines later on. Once they really know what’s expected, then easing up makes more sense.

Just my two cents - every family’s got their own weird formula that works (or doesn’t) for them...

Structure really can make a difference, especially with younger kids. I’ve seen a lot of families struggle when they try to be too laid-back about brushing - kids are masters at shortcuts, and before you know it, they’re barely getting the brush wet. In my own house, we had a phase where my daughter would “forget” to brush certain teeth, or just do a quick swipe in the front. We ended up using a little kitchen timer (nothing fancy), and honestly, it was a game changer for her. She liked racing the sand to see if she could finish brushing every tooth before it ran out, which turned it into a bit of a game instead of a chore.

I do think you’re onto something with the idea of structure as a foundation. Once kids get the basics down and it feels automatic, you can relax a little without everything falling apart. Kind of like training wheels - you don’t leave them on forever, but you don’t just toss them out on day one either.

I’ve also noticed that giving kids some control (like you mentioned with the electric toothbrush) can be surprisingly motivating. One family I worked with let their son pick out his own toothpaste flavor and toothbrush, and suddenly he was way more invested in the routine. Sometimes it’s those small bits of ownership that matter most.

Tech can be helpful, but I agree it’s a fine line. I’ve seen apps and timers work for some families, but for others, it just turns into screen time battles. At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some kids need more structure, others do better with a little freedom. The main thing is just sticking with it - even if it means a few toothpaste blobs in the sink along the way...

Timers are genius - I wish I’d thought of that when my son was little. He used to just chew on his toothbrush and call it good. I totally agree about letting them pick their own stuff, too. My daughter went through a phase where she’d only brush if she could use “sparkle” toothpaste, which honestly made things way less of a battle. It’s funny how those little choices make all the difference. And yeah, structure really does help, even if it means wiping toothpaste off the walls every now and then...